Five for mid-February

Cars, girls' names. cocktails and songs.

Nothing about cars or cocktails in the song but Tina Weymouth's bass may prove adequate compensation on the first Talking Heads single from 1977.

1956 Mercedes Benz 220S The vendor informs us that over 50K has been spent to make this 220S look as good it does and he hopes to recoup 30K of that. We shall see. As we who suffer the restoration compulsion know, budgets have little meaning and once you are in that far you just have to keep going until the thing is finished. You are unlikely to ever see a better example so make his day. For: The best example of a decent car. Against: I am sure Adam Smith has something to say about the economics of this.

1969 Fiat 500 Bambina Much the same could be said of this lovely 500 except that the price is entirely reasonable and it is attracting bids already, showing how popular the baby Fiat is. If you have a short commute and you want strangers to smile and give you the eyebrow flick, this is the car for you. For: Dark blue and red trim is a great combination. Against: Nothing at all.

1974 Daimler Vanden Plas  The 18K asking price would get you nowhere close to the cost of a thorough restoration on one of these. There are plenty of horrors out there and they should really only be offered as parts cars due to the cost and complexity of repair. Long periods of sitting around also do them no good so choose one that has been used regularly and serviced, For: One for the well known aesthete who recently accused me of ignoring his particular needs. Against: What are you doing with that spanner in your hand? Step away now.

1960 Buick Le Sabre No-one tortured sheet metal like the Americans did during this period. I can picture house lights all over Flint going dim as the mighty presses groaned to turn out this Buick Le Sabre which is in four door pillarless form with just 64K miles on the clock. I will just show you the back end in the hope you will take in the other equally spectacular aspects. For: Irregular, just how I like them.  Against: Good thing we don't have too many Republicans here as this is what they drive.